Method and system using sms notification and an internet browser to provide realtime transport information

ABSTRACT

A method of tracking travel plans, the method comprising the steps of: (a) forming a current travel plan on an internet interactive database; (b) initially forwarding a coded indicator of the current travel plan on a mobile communications device; (c) utilising the coded indicator to interrogate a remote database of current travel information to determine travel logistic information relevant to the current travel plan; (d) communicating issues associated with the logistics of the current travel plan with the mobile communications device; (e) conveying the issues to a user of the mobile communications device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to transport information systems and methods,generally. In particular, this invention provides a system and methodfor supplying real-time transport information via a mobile device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The ability to obtain real-time transport information is limited mainlyto non-interactive display devices at fixed locations e.g., electronicdisplay systems at train and bus stations, or along the roadside formotor transport. Another option available is to passively listen forradio broadcasts that are not likely to be particularly relevant to thetransport user's circumstance, or specific enough to be of significantutility. It is also technically feasible for transport operators of atunnel to override the radio spectrum to broadcast to those within thetunnel, but once again this would only be truly useful for emergencypurposes i.e., there would be very little value in informing users thattraffic was heavy when they were already in the tunnel and could take noaction to avoid it.

The possibility for a user of real-time transport information toinitiate a request for transport data, specific to their situation at atime and location convenient to them, has faced a few obstacles thatforces them to rely on the previously described information sources.While advanced 3G (third generation) mobile devices exist that couldfacilitate access to this information, the limited number oftelecommunication networks that provide this functionality and the lowadoption of these devices by the general public means this is not avalid information provision alternative. Consequently, the primarydevice available through which to distribute the required information isthe highly pervasive second generation mobile phone.

Use of such devices though comes with its own limitations, primarily thelack of a truly interactive data functionality that would allow users tomake their transport queries in real-time on an ad-hoc basis. Instead,the user is required to independently construct their own query for theinformation they are interested in by using, for example the ShortMessage Service (“SMS”) available on these devices. This requires alarge degree of user effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of tracking travel plans, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) forming a current travel plan on an internet interactivedatabase; (b) initially forwarding a coded indicator of the currenttravel plan on a mobile communications device; (c) utilising the codedindicator to interrogate a remote database of current travel informationto determine travel logistic information relevant to the current travelplan; (d) communicating issues associated with the logistics of thecurrent travel plan with the mobile communications device; (e) conveyingthe issues to a user of the mobile communications device.

The forwarding can comprise sending an SMS message with the codedindicator to the mobile communications device. The SMS messagepreferably can include a return address for interrogating the remotedatabase. The step (a) preferably can also include interacting withtravel route planning software utilising an internet browser. The remotedatabase can be further interconnected with externally providedtransport information databases for real time updates of transportinformation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically the operational environment of thepreferred embodiment; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart of the steps involved in executing thepreferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS

There is a need for the burden of constructing the SMS query to beshifted from the user to the information provider; where artificialmeans can be used to more efficiently compose the SMS query, as well asthere being a comprehensive knowledge base from which to configure afull suite of queries.

Responsibility for the SMS query construction is passed to theinformation provider via a Web site that allows the user to access astandalone artificially intelligent route planning system with a set ofgraphical interface tools. Through the selection of a range of optionsoffered to the user and the results of the route planning system, theuser's desired query is determined and presented to them in an easilycomprehendible form at the information provider's Web site. The query isthen converted into SMS format and sent to a mobile device with thenumber as specified by the user. This mobile device can be a GSM (GlobalSystem for Mobile communications) or other mobile device that is capableof accepting a SMS message.

The user is then able to retain the SMS query in their mobile device andreuse this query as often as they chose to at any point in time in thefuture. When the real— time information related to the query isrequired, the user will send the SMS query to the information provider'sservice number, and on receipt of the SMS query the information providerwill process it. This procedure is carried out through the informationprovider's system incorporating real-time third-party information fromthe relevant transport operators. Once the result of the query has beendetermined, the information is put into SMS format and returned to theuser's mobile device from which the SMS query was sent.

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically the arrangement of the preferredembodiment 1 wherein a user interacts with a web browser 2 over theInternet 3 which is connected to a web site Internet server 4. TheInternet server 4 provides account detail information etc. and the userinteracts with a route planning system 5 which provides for routeplanning details. Upon completion of a route, the planning systemformulates an appropriate SMS message which is forwarded to an SMSmessaging unit 6 which sends the message to the designated handheldmobile phone or the like 7. At a future time, the handheld device 7 isutilised to send the SMS message to SMS messaging unit 6 whichinterrogates a real time traffic database 8 for providing currenttraffic information. The database 8 can derive information in real timefrom various other external suppliers 9.

The process therefore begins with the user employing an internet browser2 to access the information provider's Web site 4. The option toregister with the information provider and create a uniqueidentification profile can be taken up by the user, however this is notan essential element for the service's basic functionality to operate.The primary function is to aid the user in defining the parameters thatform the specific query that they have an interest in.

In order to facilitate the specification of these parameters, the Website enables access to a standalone route planning system 5. Thisrouting system employs a set of algorithms and allows it to determinethe best routes for a user according to criteria that they supply. Thesecriteria can be limited to departure and/or arrival points, or extend toinclude time-related rules e.g., arrive by a specific time, or nextdeparture. Further options can be added to the user's criterion that cancome either in the form of a boolean value or preference for a certainoutcome measured by a value on a sliding scale e.g., lowest fare or tollcost, limited number of distinct legs in a journey, or preference ofwaiting time relative to distance required to walk, mode of transport.

The opportunity to select these options are made available to the userthrough the Web site 4, along with additional graphical interface toolsthat aid the user's interaction with the information provider's routingsystem. This includes maps and the ability for the user to focus on aparticular area of interest to them e.g., a suburb.

Once the user has specified the criterion to their satisfaction they cansubmit this to the route planning system, which in return determines theoptimum routes in ranked order according to the supplied criterion andpresents these results to the user. At this point the user can eitherfurther refine the criterion to be resubmitted to the system or acceptone of the routing options presented to them. Alternatively the user canselect a particular route and manually alter its details to meet theirapproval.

Once this step in the process is complete, whether through one ormultiple iterations of the procedure described above, the final routethat results will have a set of relevant queries that can be derivedfrom it. For example in a route that is composed of two distinct legs,the user may be interested in queries on the next departure time fromthe start of either or both legs e.g., a bus ride to the nearest trainstation and then catching the train to the final destination. Thecomplete set of these queries is made available to the user, from whichthey can select one or more of the queries via interaction with theInternet server 4.

Additional options can also be attached at this point to further refinethe query e.g., monitor entire route for traffic trouble spots such astraffic jams or reported accidents.

Now the user is able to select the query or queries to be converted andhave them sent via SMS messaging unit 6 to their nominated mobile device7 by the information provider. Each query can be coded into SMS formataccording to the information provider's protocol such that these will beable to be interpreted correctly at a later point when the user returnsthe SMS query as an information request. If the user has registered witha profile that contains a number for the mobile device 7, that will beused as the destination for the SMS query, otherwise the user will beprompted for this number. Each SMS query desired by the user will thenbe sent to this mobile device 7.

If a registered profile for the user exists with the informationprovider it is also possible to store these queries under that profilealong with the route associated with them for added convenience to theuser.

From this point the user now has a correctly composed SMS query thatthey can use latter at their convenience. This SMS query or queries canbe stored on their mobile device 7 and reused as often as the userrequires. In order to put the query into use, the user retrieves thestored SMS query and sends it to the information provider to SMS messageunit 6 through their service number. The information provider uses thereceived SMS query to retrieve the requested information from the RealTime traffic database 8 that maintains real-time information supplied bya range of transport operators, 9 e.g., public transport organisations,the roads authority, private operators of toll roads. Having determinedan appropriate reply to the SMS query, the result can be formatted bySMS message unit 6 and be returned to the user's mobile device 7 via aSMS message from the information provider, satisfying the user'srequirement for real-time transport information.

The steps involved in the preferred embodiment can be as illustrated inFIG. 2 wherein the steps 20 first involves a user forming a query at theprovider's website 21. The provider sends the query to the designatedmobile phone for user storage 22. When it is desired to utilise thequery, the user sends the SMS to a server 23. The server locates currentinformation from the transport database 24 and composes and sends theresults to the user 25 in an intelligible format. The user then accessesthe results to determine their travel plan 26.

The foregoing describes preferred forms of the present invention.Modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made theretowithout departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A method of tracking travel plans, the method comprising the stepsof: (a) forming a current travel plan on an internet interactivedatabase; (b) initially forwarding a coded indicator of the currenttravel plan on a mobile communications device; (c) utilizing said codedindicator to interrogate a remote database of current travel informationto determine travel logistic information relevant to said current travelplan; (d) communicating issues associated with the logistics of saidcurrent travel plan with said mobile communications device; (e)conveying said issues to a user of said mobile communications device. 2.A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said forwarding comprises sendingan SMS message with the coded indicator to said mobile communicationsdevice.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said SMS messageincludes a return address for interrogating said remote database.
 4. Amethod as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step (a) includes interactingwith travel route planning software utilizing an internet browser.
 5. Amethod as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote database is furtherinterconnected with externally provided transport information databasesfor real time updates of transport information.
 6. A system forformulating and modelling travel plans, the system including: firstinteractive system for creating coded indicators of travel plans; amobile communications device for receipt of said coded indicator; realtime monitoring system for later receipt of said coded indicator fromsaid mobile communications device, said monitoring system interrogatinga current database to determine if any information relevant to acorresponding travel plan to said coded indicator exists and forwardingsaid information to said mobile communications device for review by auser. 7-8. (canceled)